Drawbar-straightener



Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

fal en/5'01.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWTON L. YARNALL, ACGOVILLE, VT EST VIRGINIA.

DRAWBAR-STRAIGI-ITENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON L. YARNALL, citizen of the United States, residing at Accoville, in the county of Logan and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drawbar- Straighteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved draw bar straightener, being particularly designed for use in connection with mine cars, and has as one of its principal objects to provide a device of this character whereby the draw bar of a mine car may be readily bent into normal position so as to properly mate with the draw bar of an adjacent car.

The invention has as a further object to provide a straightener which may be readily applied and which may then be operated with a minimum of difficulty for straightening the draw bar.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide a device which will eliminate the necessity, as at present experienced, for removing the draw bar of a car in order to eifect straightening of the bar.

Other and incidental objects will hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved device applied to the draw bar of a mine car, a bumper of the car and adjacent parts being shown in section,

Fig. 2 is a plan view, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the device more in detail.

As is well known, the draw bars of mine cars very often become bent or otherwise distorted in such degree that it is impossible to couple the cars together. In any instance where the draw bar of a mine car thus becomes bent it is, under present practice, necessary to remove the bar in order that it may be heated and straightened. Thi operation generally requires the services of a workman for an entire day so that where any considerable number of cars are being operated, the expense of maintaining the draw bars of the cars in proper condition is considerable. Accordingly, the present invention seeks to eliminate the major portion of this expense, as well as overcome the other disadvantages noted.

In carrying the invention into effect, I employ a body bar 10. This body bar is, as

appear Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 363,612.

shownin the drawing, preferably tapered longitudinally and secured to the side faces of the bar at its larger end is a depending stirrup 11 standing at substantially right angles to the bar. As shall presently appear, this stirrup provide a j aw engageable with a draw bar for connecting the device thereto. Freely fitting through the bar ad- ]acent its outer end is a swinging fulcrum link 12 normally depending from the bar.

In order to facilitate an accurate under standing of the manner in which the device is applied and operated, I have, in the drawing, shown my improved straightener in con-- nection with the draw bar of a conventional mine car. The draw bar of the car is indicated at 13 and, as is usual, this draw bar projects over the adjacent car bumper 14. As previously pointed out and as will now be readily appreciated, when the free end portion of the draw bar becomes bent upwardly, it will'be impossible to link the car to an adjacent car. Under such circumstances, the stirrup 11 of the device is, as shown in the drawing, slipped over the free end of the bar so that the body bar 10 will extend for wardly beyond the free end of the bar, resting against the upper face thereof. A suitable lever, as conventionally illustrated at 15, is then fitted through the link 12 and engaged at its inner end beneath the car bumper when, by prying downwardly upon the outer end portion of the lever, the device will, as will be seen, operate to flex or bend the free end portion of the draw bar downwardly to its normal position for straightening the bar. Thus, the device may be readily applied and operated to accomplish the desired results and accordingly eliminate the necessity for removing the draw bar from the car. As will be noted, the stirrup is formed to snugly receive the outer end portion of the draw bar therethrough and will coact with the draw bar to prevent tilting of the body bar 10 with respect thereto as well as to also prevent side movement of the body bar. Consequentl pressure upon the outer end portion of t e lever 15 may be brought to bear, as desired, without likelihood of slipping of the device upon the draw bar and, of course, the fulcrum point of the lever may be readily shifted by simply positioning the free end of the link 12 either toward or away from the car bumper. I accordingly provide an effective device for the purpose set forth and a device Which, in practical use, Will be found highly convenient. 7

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is: V

1. A device of the character described including a body bar, a stirrup secured to the inner end of the bar to fit around a part to be bent With the bar resting on said part, a loop suspended on the outer end of the bar. and an operating lever inserted through and supported by said loop to fulcrum against a fixed support disposed between the lever and the part to be bent.

2. A device for the purpose set forth comprising abody bar, a stirrup. secured rigidly to one end of said bar and flattened below the bar whereby to project laterally from the bar, and a suspending loop pivotally engaged in the opposite end of the bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NEWTON L. YARNALL. [1,. s] 

